Re:  Chance (28 July 2024) - Donna Danna:  When the Feast of Firstfruits Occurs

    Coming in on the middle or end of this discussion I'm amazed at all the intricate knowledge exhibited about Firstfruits and the Sabbath Day.  It's mind-numbing.  Kudos!

 

    On a side note, this talk about the Sabbath reminds me of someone who asked Jesus recently about the importance of keeping the Sabbath.  Jesus wisely replied, "It's not about a day.  It's about a man."  That makes all the sense in the world because Seventh Day Adventists incorrectly believe that if you don't go to church on Saturday, the Sabbath, to worship each week, then you are destined for Hell.  They're mentally stuck in legalism (letter of the law) as opposed to the spirit of the law.

 

    So for anyone reading this, in the Book of John 4:21-23 (see Reference below), Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that the day was coming when people would no longer worship on the mountain or in Jerusalem (where the Jewish temple was).  Instead we would worship God in our hearts, the new temple, where the Holy Spirit would reside.  That's why the curtain in the Jewish temple was torn at the crucifixion - to allow us direct access to God.

 

     This switch occurred at Jesus death and resurrection.  Jesus would much rather we worship Him every day of the week, not just one day and not in a building made by human hands, but rather in our hearts made by God, Himself, for true intimacy.  That's why it's important to keep our hearts pure before God so we don't defile our spiritual temple like the Jews did their physical one.

 

Reference:

  

John 4:21-23 [KJV]

²¹ Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

²² Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

²³ But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.